Sweetened drinks at root of global obesity, type 2 diabetes epidemic

The average can (12 ounces) of soda has about 120-150 calories and 10 teaspoons of sugar. (Photo: Copyright Lori Martin/Fotolia. com)

By Neil Osterweil

The world has a major drinking problem, and it is a killer.

The drink of choice is not alcohol, but sodas, fruit drinks, sport drinks, flavored waters, and other beverages loaded with sugar in any of its incarnations, according to investigators who spoke at a symposium sponsored by the International Atherosclerosis Society.

The human body has adapted through evolution to imbibing water, breast milk, and little else–certainly not Coke, Pepsi, Hawaiian Punch, or Gatorade. But our acquired taste for sugar-sweetened beverages and for sweeter food than what our primal ancestors could have imagined is in large measure responsible for expanding waistlines and rising rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, said Dr. Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“We’ve had, in the high-income world, two remarkable changes over the last 20-30 years,” Dr. Popkin said. “One is a shift away from water, low-sweetened coffees and teas, and a little bit of alcohol, to a diet dominated by caloric sweeteners in everything we consume, particularly beverages.”

Study findings suggest that when infants are exposed to sweet tastes, they will express a preference for sweet foods even years later. Yet there are virtually no long-term studies showing how such exposure to sweetness and sweet food affects caloric needs and subsequent eating patterns, Dr. Popkin said.

“In the quantities now consumed, fructose is probably harmful to a great many people in our populations,” said Dr. George Bray, who researches the metabolic effects of sugary beverages at Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.

Exposure to fructose has been shown to have detrimental effect on thermogenesis, lipids and metabolites, and blood pressure, said Dr. Bray, pointing to a 1993 study in which volunteers were monitored for metabolic changes following an oral load of glucose or fructose (Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1993;58:766s- 770s). Fructose stimulated oxygen consumption more than did glucose, but had a smaller effect on insulin stimulation. Fructose also increased respiratory quotient more than did glucose, and there was a suggestion that fructose may increase de novo lipogenesis.

Short-term dietary studies have shown that compared with water or glucose, fructose is associated with weight gain, and increases in blood pressure, plasma inflammatory markers, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and visceral fat stores.

In a 10-week parallel-arm Danish study of 41 overweight men and women, one group received 813 kcal/d of sugar-containing beverages and the other received 240 kcal/d of artificially sweetened beverages. Patients on the sucrose-sweetened beverages gained about 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) over the 10 weeks, while those who had aspartame-sweetened drinks lost almost the same amount (Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2002;76:721) .

Patients in the sucrose group also had a mean 3.8/4.1 mm Hg increase in blood pressure. However, in the aspartame group, systolic BP declined by 3.1 mm Hg, and diastolic pressure declined by 1.2 mm Hg.

Volunteers who drank sugar-sweetened beverages have also been shown to have increases in the inflammatory markers haptoglobin, transferrin, and C-reactive protein, whereas aspartame-sweetened beverage drinkers had large declines in the same markers.

“Right now, sugar-sweetened beverages account for almost 10% of total calories in both child and adult diets in the U.S.,” according to Dr. Frank Hu of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

‘If you look at a 12-ounce can of soda, it has about 120-150 calories, and has about 10 teaspoons of sugar ... so drinking a can of soda is analogous to doing an oral glucose tolerance test.”

In a yet-to-be-published study, looking at prepregnancy consumption of sweetened beverages and the risk of gestational diabetes in more than 13,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study cohort, soft-drink consumption was associated with about a 25% increase in risk of gestational diabetes during 8 years of follow-up.

Several countries are beginning to take steps to reduce the health effects from such high sugar consumption.

“Mexico will have the highest rate of diabetes in another 10-20 years,” Dr. Popkin said. He noted that the Mexican government has switched from whole milk to 1.5% milk, and will later shift to skim milk, in programs feeding more than 20 million citizens. In addition, Mexico’s schools are working to ban all sugar-sweetened beverages, provide safe drinking water, and allow the sale of water and low-fat milk.

The Mexican government also is considering taxing added sugars in beverages per gram, as well as fat content in milk, and has launched a national media campaign to alert citizens to the dangers of hidden fats and sugars.

Europe, France, and the United Kingdom are banning vending machines in schools, and are forbidding television advertising of sweetened drinks.

Within the U.S., Maine has instituted a soft-drink tax for the purposes of health promotion, and Massachusetts, New York, and other states are considering similar measures. Many states and metropolitan areas are also requiring calorie labeling on beverages sold in fast-food outlets, according to Dr. Popkin.

Dr. Popkin noted that while he applauds those efforts, there are still major steps that need to be taken. Macroeconomic options include removing food subsidies for substances, such as sugar and corn, used to create sweeteners, and the institution of excise or value-added taxes to cover all sugary beverages, he said.

Everyone wishes to live a healthy and happy life, but very few really take efforts. Only when one is ill, does he know the value of good health. Nature has provided us with a variety of food, which we can include in our diet in its natural form. A diet containing fruits juices and vegetables is not only good for the health but also gives a glow to your skin and rejuvenates the body. They help flush out unwanted toxins. Fruit and vegetable juices should not be taken together at the same time. * Oranges are rich source of Vitamin C. It prevents constipation. They work as cleansers and improve the skin and supports the immune system. * Carrots has vitamin A and is very good for the eyes. They are one of the richest source of beta carotene. Carrot juice if taken in the morning on an empty stomach is very beneficial. It develops immunity. Prevents premature aging. It has anti-cancer properties. * Beetroot is very good for anemic persons .It does wonders to your skin. It purifies the blood and is rejuvenating. * Pineapple juice is very rich in vitamin C. It also contains Vitamins A&B. Taken with honey it is very good for the throat. * Tomatoes contain iron and is rich in vitamin A. Recommended for those who want to reduce their weight. It combats cancer. * Watermelon cools our body and are excellent cleansers. * Cucumber cools our body and is very good for those who want to lose weight. They work as astringents, cooling and brightening agents of the skin. It can be used in natural face packs also. * Lemons protect your heart, control your blood pressure and is excellent for the skin and hair. Works as a bleach for the skin. Lemon juice mixed with warm water and honey can be taken daily the first thing in the morning to have a clear complexion. It can be taken for weight reduction also. * Apples relieve constipation and reduces cholesterol and removes toxins. * Papaya is good for the skin. It is good for constipation and it combats cancer. Papaya cleanses the body completely. It delays aging of skin. Raw papaya juice if applied externally helps to cure pimples and also reduces wrinkles. * Gooseberry is rich in vitamin C. It increases the body's resistance against diseases. It has medicinal properties and is excellent for the skin and hair. It rejuvenates our body. One or two gooseberries (fruit preserved in honey) can be taken daily. * Garlic is a very powerful antiseptic. It helps to delay aging and restores tissue. It reduces high blood pressure and is good for the blood and heart. It has many other medicinal uses also. Include garlic (raw or steamed) in your diet as it has antibacterial properties and helps to improve the health of the skin # Dry Fruits : Dates are rich in iron and is good for the blood. Almonds are rich in vitamin E and is very good for the skin. Dried Apricots are rich source of iron and beta carotene. You can take it everyday for radiant looking skin.

The body of a new-born infant contains more than 80% water. The amount of water in the tissues lessens with advancing age. More than 60% of our body is made up of water.
Humans have lived 81 days without food‚ but they will die in 5 days without water. If a person loses just 5% of his total water‚ he will start to hallucinate‚ become disoriented‚ and experience twitching muscles. If he loses 15% of his total water‚ his life is endangered. A loss greater than 15% of body fluids may result in death.
Yet‚ the body has no water storage system to depend on in times of need.
The parts of the body that suffer most from dehydration are those without direct vascular circulation‚ such as the joint cartilages in fingers‚ knees‚ and vertebrae. Chronic pains are often indicators of chronic dehydration. When any of your joints begin to signal aching pains that come and go‚ the first thought that should occur to you is “My body is severely short of water.” Often‚ though‚ when the signs of water deficiency in joint cartilages are not recognized for what they indicate‚ painkillers are prescribed‚ frequently resulting in a dependence on addictive medication‚ and possible permanent results could be permanent damage to cartilage separation of the joint bones. How much water should I drink and how do I know if I am drinking enough water?
Contrary to popular belief‚ thirst is not a good indicator. By the time you are thirsty‚
it means your body has already lost more than 3% of its water. If your urine is bright
yellow‚ you are drinking too little water. Ideally‚ your urine should be as light as
possible‚ almost colorless. Regular intake of water throughout the day is important
because when a huge amount of water is ingested‚ it is practically completely
eliminated by the kidneys in the succeeding few hours.
That is why‚ to meet your daily ration of water intake‚ a lot of water all at once
is not the solution. Drink one to two glasses of water every waking hour or so
throughout the day.
Drink more if you sweat much or the weather is hot. This will help your endurance.
Carry a supply with you. Upon rising‚ drink two glasses at room temperature
with a freshly squeezed lemon in it. How about daily showers?
A burned victim who has had over 50% of the
skin function destroyed‚ has a lower chance for
survival‚ and his kidneys are placed under a
terrific load because of the loss of eliminative
assistance by the skin. The skin is considered
to play the role of a third kidney. The average
healthy person eliminates about 1 kg of waste
material daily through the pores of the skin!
People who engage in rigorous physical activity
eliminate an even greater amount.
It is important to keep the pores open
and clean by daily bathing.
Persons in health should on no account
neglect daily bathing. More so‚ those who are
not in good health have impurities in the blood.
The multitude of pores‚ or little mouths‚ through which the body breathes‚
become clogged and filled with waste matter‚ and the skin is not in a healthy condition.
The skin needs to be carefully and thoroughly cleansed‚ that the pores may do their
work in freeing the body from impurities. Feeble persons who are diseased surely
need the advantages and blessings of bathing daily.
Whether a person is sick or well‚ respiration is more free and easy if bathing is practiced.
By it‚ the muscles become more flexible‚ the mind and body are alike invigorated‚ the
intellect is made brighter‚ and every faculty becomes livelier. The bath is a soother of the
nerves. It promotes general perspiration‚ quickens the circulation‚ overcomes
obstructions in the system‚ and acts beneficially on the kidneys and urinary organs.
Bathing helps the bowels‚ stomach‚ and liver‚ giving energy and new life to each.
It also promotes digestion‚ and instead of the system being weakened‚
it is strengthened.
Instead of increasing the liability of cold‚ a bath‚ properly taken‚ fortifies against cold‚
because the circulation is improved‚ and the uterine organs‚ which are more or less
congested are relieved‚ for the blood is brought to the surface‚ and an easier and
regular flow of the blood through all the blood vessels is obtained.
Remember to always end your bath or shower with cold water‚ as this
strengthens the body whereas ending with warm or hot water weakens the body. Should I use hydrotherapy (water treatments) when I am sick? How effective is it?
The things of nature are God's blessings‚ provided to give health to the body‚ mind‚
and soul. They are given to the healthy to keep them healthy and to the sick to make
them healthy. Natural remedies with water treatment are more effective in restoring
health than all the drug medication in the world.
Take one hot bath a day‚ remain in the bath for 20 minutes; the temperature of the
water should be 110 degrees F‚ followed by a cold shower for 1-3 minutes.
Before each shower or bath‚ dry brush the skin with a stiff brush until the skin is rosy
and warmed. Brush stroking towards the heart region.
Having steam bath at home is excellent. Have a steam bath daily‚ or twice daily
in serious sicknesses‚ until you are recovered. Sit on a small stool‚ covered with a
blanket‚ from the neck to the feet. Place a basin of boiling water between your feet.
Replace the water as it cools‚ with more hot water.
Maintain this position for twenty minutes; end with a cold shower for 1-2 minutes.
URL - http://www.worldsla stchance. com/articles/ heavens-healing/ 4.-our-neglected -bath.htmlYour comments and feedbacks always welcome .. Rahul, at Cybugle@yahoo. com as well as at bruntno1@yahoo. com

There was once a washer man who had a donkey and a dog. One night when the whole world was sleeping, a thief broke into the house, the washer man was fast asleep too but the donkey and the dog were awake. The dog decided not to bark since the master did not take good care of him and wanted to teach him a lesson.

The donkey got worried and said to the dog that if he doesn't bark, the donkey will have to do something himself. The dog did not change his mind and the donkey started braying loudly.

Hearing the donkey bray, the thief ran away, the master woke up and started beating the donkey for braying in the middle of the night for no reason. Moral of the story"One must not engage in duties other than his own"

Now take a new look at the same story...

The washer man was a well educated man from LUMS institute. He had the fundas of looking at the bigger picture and thinking out of the box. He was convinced that there must be some reason for the donkey to bray in the night. He walked outside a little and did some fact finding, applied a bottom up approach, figured out from the ground realities that there was a thief who broke in and the donkey only wanted to alert him about it. Looking at the donkey's extra initiative and going beyond the call of the duty, he rewarded him with lot of hay and other perks and became his favorite pet. The dog's life didn't change much, except that now the donkey was more motivated in doing the dog's duties as well. In the annual appraisal the dog managed "ME" (Met Expectations). Soon the dog realized that the donkey is taking care of his duties and he can enjoy his life sleeping and lazing around.

The donkey was rated as "star performer". The donkey had to live up to his already high performance standards. Soon he was over burdened with work and always under pressure and now is looking for a NEW JOB... Moral of the story…ehmmm, please see above.

Disclaimer: All characters in the story are not at all imaginary. Any resemblance to person living or dying of work is purely "intentional"

These are challenging times and we need to stay calm and think things through - not just panic and react. Fear, panic and emotional reaction got us into this mess and it is certainly not going to get us out of it.

We also need to realise - here, now - that we have long crossed the line into a fully-fledged fascist dictatorship. It has hidden itself to most people this far, but it is about to lift the veil.

It is no longer an option to do nothing or passively acquiesce to authority out of fear or apathy. Or, at least, it's not if we care about our freedoms and, most importantly, those of our children and grandchildren who will have to live almost their entire lives under a global jackboot of sheer, undiluted evil.

The word 'evil' is much overused and I don't say it lightly; but we are dealing with evil in the sense that the word is the reverse of 'live'. Those behind the conspiracy to cull the human population and turn the rest into little more than computer terminals are anti-life. They have no respect for it and no empathy with those who suffer the consequences of their actions, no matter how appalling.

I have been warning of what was coming for nearly 20 years and it is not 'coming' any more - it's here. No more excuses from anyone, please. We have to deal with it. We have to draw a line in the sand and say no more.

Never was this more important than with the conspiracy to force swine flu vaccination upon the global population. The swine flu virus was created in a laboratory to generate mass panic with the specific intention of forcing everyone to have the vaccine. Problem-Reaction-Solution. This 'natural' swine flu virus apparently contains genes from humans, birds and pigs from several continents.

If you concoct and release a virus and then implement a clearly long-planned mass vaccination programme, there can be only one sensible conclusion: swine flu is not the biggest danger here - it's the vaccine.

The scale and speed of the planned vaccination programme is insane given that the overwhelming majority of those who have contracted the virus have had very mild symptoms. Dr Peter Holden of the Rothschild-controlled British Medical Association said that although swine flu was not causing serious illness they were eager to start a mass vaccination campaign, beginning with 'priority groups'. Ugh?? This is not about public health and never was.

Those administering the vaccinations have no clue what is in them or their potential effect. They are just repeaters thinking what they are told to think and doing what they are told to do. Only those at the core of the conspiracy, and those who bother to research it, know what the game is.

'Get yer flu shot, get yer flu shot, get yer flu shot ...'

The Austrian journalist, Jane Bürgermeister, has filed criminal charges with the FBI against the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations, Barack Obama, a Rockefeller, a Rothschild, and others, over a plot she uncovered to cull the population with a deadly swine flu vaccine.

She said that bird flu and swine flu have been developed in laboratories and released on the public with the aim of mass murder through vaccination. Her filed document is called Bioterrorism Evidence. She writes here about the United States, but what she says applies everywhere:

'There is evidence that an international corporate criminal syndicate, which has annexed high government office at Federal and State level, is intent on carrying out a mass genocide against the people of the United States by using an artificial (genetic) flu pandemic virus and forced vaccine program to cause mass death and injury and depopulate America in order to transfer control of the United States to the United Nations and affiliated security forces (UN troops from countries such as China, Canada, the UK and Mexico).

There is proof many organisations - World Health Organisation, UN as well as vaccine companies such as Baxter and Novartis - are part of a single system under the control of a core criminal group, who give the strategic leadership, and who have also funded the development, manufacturing and release of artificial viruses in order to justify mass vaccinations with a bioweapon substance in order to eliminate the people of the USA, and so gain control of the assets, resources etc of North America.

The motivation for the crime is classical robbery followed by murder although the scale and method are new in history. The core group sets its strategic goals and operative priorities in secret using committees such as the Trilateral Commission, and in person to person contact in the annual Bilderberg meeting.'

Jane Bürgermeister is a rare real journalist, so much so that she was sacked from her job as European correspondent of the Renewable Energy World website after she filed the charges with the FBI. Renewable Energy? It is their backbone and sense of decency that need renewing, but it shows how controlled everything is.

---------------------------------------------------------- Your comments and feedbacks always welcome .. Rahul, at Cybugle@yahoo. com as well as at bruntno1@yahoo. com----------------------------------------------------------

The F-16 was inducted into the PAF in 1983. The initial order was of 40 aircraft (28 F-16As and 12 F-16Bs). The F-16A is a single- seat air combat fighter while the F-16B is a dual-seat combat capable fighter trainer. The F-16 is a true multi-mission aircraft and can carry upto 15,200 lbs of bombs, missiles and rockets. It presently equips No. 9 and No. 11 (OCU) squardons of the PAF.

Pakistan ordered 11 more F-16s in 1988 and 60 F-16C/Ds but in October 1990, Presselar Ammendment was passed that effectively blocked all future deliveries of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan. In March 2005, US agreed to deliver additional F-16s to Pakistan. The no. to be ordered was intially 75. This was changed to 55 and eventually, PAF decided to buy 18 new F-16C/Ds and 26 used F-16A/Bs that are to be delivered by 2008/2009. In December 2005, US delivered 2 F-16As to Pakistan as a token of goodwill. This raised the total number of active F-16s in PAF service to 34.

J F 17 Thunder

JF-17 Thunder, one of the worlds most capable multirole fighter aircraft. Developed by Pakistan and China, it will fulfil PAF requirements well into the mid 21st century. The website provides a dynamic tour of the aircraft, its cutting edge technology and operational capabilities.

JF-17 Thunder is a light weight all weather multi-role fighter aircraft jointly developed by China and Pakistan.

The aircraft has been developed in record time when airframe development was de-linked from avionics.